1. Chapter 6

2. Aegis: protection, sponsorship Since the adult Zeus covered his shield with this goat’s skin (aigis is Greek for “goatskin”), which made the shield invulnerable, Zeus’ shield was known as the aegis. Synonyms: guardianship, support, patronage, auspices

3. Our ambassadors are under the aegis of the United States government.

4. Auspicious: favorable, promising a good outcome The word “auspicious” devies from the Latin avis (“ bird”) and specio (“see”). The Romans dissected birds, for they thought the birds’ internal organs predicted events. Synonyms: promising, encouraging, propitious Related word: opportune

5. A student who gets all “A’s” in his/her first semester has an auspicious beginning in college.

6. Jaded: wearied, dulled, or bored by having too much The word “jaded” derives from tired, worn-out horses. Norse jalda meant “mare.” Syn: Worn-out, overindulged, satiated

7. Americans are so jaded with sweets, spices, and refined foods, that they have no appetite for a wholesome diet. Children jaded with an overabundance of toys cannot appreciate any gift.

8. Atone: make up (for a wrong) Originally, “atonement” meant “at-one-ment” with God, in other words reconciled for in peaceful harmony with God. Syn: make amends, make reparations, expiate

9. On Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement, Jews fast and pray that God will forgive their sins.

10. Lewd: obscene, indecent, lustful “Lewd” comes from Old English laewede, meaning “lay” or “not of the church.” Syn: vulgar, smutty, lascivious

11. Lewd songs have indecent sexual overtones.

12. Succinct: Briefly and clearly expressed The ancient Romans wore a loose garment, somewhat like a long shirt called a tunic. When the Romans wanted to shorten their tunics so as to move more freely, they would tuck up the tunic under the cinctura. Syn: brief, concise, terse Related: laconic

13. Teachers of freshman composition continually tell their students to cut out wordiness and be succinct.

14. Prevaricate: stray from the truth: mislead “Prevaricate” derives from Latin varicus (“straddling”) which came from varus (“bent”), a term applied to a knock-kneed or crooked-legged person who did not walk straight. Syn: lie, misinform, equivocate

15. Government officials prevaricated during the Senate hearing in order to cover up their illegal actions.

16. Aloof: reserved, detached, unconcerned “Aloof” comes from a (“towards”) and the Dutch word loef (“to windward”). “Aloof” thus derives from a nautical term meaning to head the ship into the wind so as to keep distance from the shore. Syn: removed, unresponsive, indifferent

17. Some people may appear cold and aloof although in reality they are merely shy.

18. Jovial: full of hearty humor and fun; jolly Jove (Jupiter), on the other hand, went on to joyfully lord the heavens. Syn: merry, cheerful, jocular

19. No one would hire a frowning, saturnine man to play the part of jovial, jolly Santa Claus.

20. Saturnine: gloomy, grave Foremost among these Titans was Cronus, whose Roman name is Saturn. Syn: moody, sulky, morose

21. My boss never smiles; he is the gloomiest, most saturnine man I know.

22. Eulogy: speech or writing in praise of someone or something, especially of one who has died

23. Euphemism: pleasant, mild, or inoffensive expression substituted from an unpleasant or offensive one

24. Eugenics: science of improving a breed or species through selection of parents

25. Euphoria: feeling of complete well- being, great happiness

26. Euthanasia: mercy killing, painlessly putting to death someone suffering from a prolonged and incurable condition